A ‘spare tire’ seems to be unavoidable as we age, but that is NOT the case. The truth is that if we understand the changes in our metabolism and hormones due to aging, we can stop packing on the pounds around our middles.

Stubborn belly fat is not just ugly, it can also be dangerous. Doctors refer to it as ‘waist roundness’ and it has been linked to pre-diabetes and diabetes.

Other studies have linked abdominal fat to a range of other serious diseases, including:

cancer

high blood pressure

high cholesterol

heart disease

dementia

and more.

What can you do to banish belly fat and start to slim down? Yoga can help you with both.

Yoga uses the weight of your own body to give you a good work out. You can develop great abs and a solid core in around 15 minutes of practice each day, and best of all, without having to do endless crunches.

Here are the main ways yoga can help banish belly fat

Posture

Good posture is essential for strong muscles. Good abdominal muscles banish belly fat. Whenever you are sitting, walking or standing, check your abs. Engage your core and tighten your stomach muscles and see what a difference it can make to your belly and back. Yoga poses that can help which you can do almost anywhere include Mountain and Tree, if you don’t raise your arms.

Yoga poses for the abs

Focus on postures that are great for the abs. Try Boat, Plank and Chaturanga.

Yoga poses for the core

Pay special attention to yoga poses that are good for developing a strong core, including Dolphin plank, Side Plank and Donkey Kick.

Calories burned with yoga

All exercise will burn calories. With yoga, you can burn 500 to 800 calories an hour, up to 1,300 calories per 90 minute Bikram class (though this is not recommended for seniors or anyone with a serious health issue).

Muscles rather than fat

As you work your abs, you will develop long, lean muscle and banish belly fat.

A faster metabolism

Long, lean muscle burns calories more efficiently than fat, to help you lose weight quickly.

If you are tired of looking in the mirror at a spare tire, try yoga and see how fast you can banish belly fat forever.